Samsung drops request for sales ban on some Apple products in Europe

LONDON — Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it has withdrawn its requests to have sales of certain Apple products banned in Europe, though it is still pursuing lawsuits over technology licences.

The two companies are waging a legal battle on multiple fronts and across the world as they jostle for dominance in the more than $100-billion global smartphone market.

On Monday, a judge in San Francisco rejected Apple Inc.’s demands that Samsung cease selling models which a jury recently found illegally used Apple technology. The ruling allows Samsung to continue selling three of the older-generation smartphones still on U.S. shelves.

In the European case, Samsung said it was withdrawing the injunction requests “in the interest of protecting consumer choice.” It did not specify in what countries it was dropping the requests, but press reports mentioned Germany, France, Britain, Italy and the Netherlands.

While it dropped the sales ban request, Samsung is still suing Apple in Europe over the use of certain technology licences.

“Samsung did not withdraw its lawsuits in Europe; the lawsuits are very much in place,” said Samsung spokesperson Kiyung Nam.